Category: Alopecia

Will Shampoo Help with Hair Loss Due to Alopecia?

The first question that many people ask is: “Which shampoo should I use for alopecia?”

I completely understand. We are naturally drawn to focus on the problem spot. In the case of hair loss and alopecia, the hair seems to be the obvious problem spot, and shampoo is something that we think of right away as something we use regularly on the hair. There are also many products on the shelves that make claims on having an effect on hair growth. This helps to precondition our minds to seek for shampoo as the first step.

However, here’s the thing: No shampoo can cure or reverse autoimmune-related hair loss.

This might not be what you wanted to hear, but it’s important to understand this. If you or your child has alopecia areata or another autoimmune type of hair loss, shampoo by itself will not stop the hair loss or make your hair grow back.

Can Shampoo Fix My Alopecia?

How Long Does Shampoo Actually Stay on Your Scalp?

Shampoo only touches your scalp for a few minutes at most when you’re washing your hair. That’s simply not enough time for any ingredients to get deep enough into your skin to affect what’s happening with your immune system at the hair follicle level.

What Actually Causes Alopecia Hair Loss?

Alopecia areata, totalis or universalis happens when the hair follicles are disrupted by immune system activity, affecting the natural hair growth cycle, resulting in unusual pattern of hair loss. This is a complex process happening inside your body that requires much more than a shampoo that gets rinsed away in minutes.

Does the Shampoo I Use Matter for Alopecia?

In short yes, but not in the way most people think. While shampoo can’t directly regrow your hair, it does play a role in keeping your scalp healthy, which matters in providing a healthy environment for hair to regrow in general.

How Does the Right Shampoo Help with Alopecia?

What Good Shampoo Does:

• Keeps your scalp clean so hair follicles aren’t blocked by buildup
• Removes oils, residue, and irritants that could interfere with regrowth
• Creates a healthy environment for hair when your body is ready to grow it back

How ‘Bad’ Shampoo Can Hurt Your Progress:

• Many regular shampoos contain synthetic fragrances and harsh chemicals
• These ingredients get absorbed through your scalp and add to your body’s toxic load
• When you’re trying to reduce inflammation and help your immune system, every extra chemical your body has to process makes things harder

Do Hair Growth Shampoos Actually Work?

You’ve probably seen shampoos advertising ingredients like biotin, caffeine, or rosemary for hair growth. Here’s what you should know about these:

Does Biotin in Shampoo Help with Hair Loss?

Biotin in shampoo doesn’t work the same way biotin (vitamin B₇) that we consume by eating foods containing this nutrient. The biotin in shampoo can’t penetrate deep enough through your scalp to have any real effect. Even biotin supplements, often synthetically manufactured, don’t fix the immune system problems causing alopecia.

Will Caffeine Shampoo Make My Hair Grow?

Some studies show caffeine might stimulate hair follicles in lab tests, but when it’s in shampoo that gets rinsed out after a few minutes? The claimed benefits are questionable.

Is Rosemary Shampoo Good for Alopecia?

Real rosemary has actually been shown to have legitimate benefits for hair health and circulation. I’ve personally seen great results from infusing fresh rosemary into my own homemade hair care products.

But in commercially made rosemary shampoos, I have to ask: What form of rosemary are they actually using? Is it fresh rosemary extract, dried powder, synthetic rosemary fragrance, rosemary oil, or some chemically processed version? How do they get it to stay stable in the product?

Most commercially made shampoos contain minimal amounts of rosemary, often in forms that have been so processed they’ve lost much of their beneficial properties. Many times it’s included more for the marketing appeal of saying “contains rosemary” than for any real therapeutic benefit.

Why Don’t Hair Growth Shampoos Work?

Most shampoos marketed for “hair growth” contain these ingredients in such small amounts or they have been so processed to have any meaningful effects on hair growth. They’re often surrounded by other chemicals that could actually add to your body’s burden instead.

What Should I Look for in Shampoo if I Have Alopecia?

When you have alopecia, your goal with shampoo should be to avoid harm and reduce stress on your body while keeping your scalp clean and healthy.

What Ingredients Should I Avoid in Shampoo?

Stay Away From:

• Synthetic fragrances or anything labeled “parfum”
• Sulfates like SLS and SLES
• Parabens and formaldehyde releasers
• Lots of unpronounceable chemical ingredients

What Makes a Good Shampoo for Alopecia?

Look For:

• Plant-based ingredients you can recognize
• No synthetic fragrances
• Gentle pH that won’t strip your scalp
• Simple, clean ingredient lists

Can Any Topical Treatment Help My Alopecia?

While shampoo has limitations, I have found that some topical care made of natural ingredients can actually help with boosting hair regrowth. I’m referring to the kind of topical care such as hair serums, hair masks and even homemade herbal shampoo that we can make at home using real ingredients.

What Should Be My Main Focus for Alopecia Treatment?

Your energy is better spent on addressing the underlying triggers and causes:

• Reducing inflammation in your body
• Supporting your nutrition and overall health
• Managing stress and lifestyle factors
• Identifying what might be triggering your immune system and potential underlying causes

Will My Hair Grow Back if I Use the Right Shampoo?

Using the right shampoo won’t make your hair grow back by itself, but using the wrong one could potentially make things worse by adding to your body’s inflammatory burden.

Think of good shampoo as creating the best possible environment for regrowth when your body is ready, while you work on the bigger picture of healing from the inside out.

What’s the Bottom Line About Shampoo and Alopecia?

The Bottom Line: No shampoo will solve autoimmune alopecia on its own, but the wrong shampoo can work against your healing efforts.

What to Do: Choose a gentle, non-toxic shampoo that supports a clean, healthy scalp while you focus most of your energy on identifying triggers, reducing inflammation, and supporting your body’s natural healing processes.

Remember: Shampoo’s job is to clean your scalp. It cannot fix your immune system. Keep your expectations realistic and put most of your healing efforts into comprehensive approaches that address what’s really causing your hair loss.

My Experience with Childhood Alopecia

Can hair grow back? How long does it take? Can alopecia be reversed in kids? Here are the answers I wish I had nine years ago.

If you’ve ever asked:

• “Will this go away on its own?”
• “Will the hair just grow back and it’s over?”
• “How long will it take for hair to grow back?”

You’re not alone. I asked all of those questions when my child was first diagnosed with autoimmune alopecia. That moment launched a journey that changed everything for our family.

Over the past nine years, I’ve worked with other individuals and families who also felt overwhelmed by the unknowns. What we all needed was clear, direct information about regrowth potential—especially for children. This post shares what I’ve learned.

I’m a parent who has spent nearly a decade researching, implementing, and documenting what works for childhood alopecia. My journey began when I realized that the conventional medical route would offer nothing to address my child’s condition. Here, I’m sharing insights that go beyond standard pharmaceuticals to offer hope through understanding the unique complexities of childhood alopecia—insights I continue to share through Winning Alopecia.

Can Hair Grow Back With Autoimmune Alopecia?

I’ve seen it happen with my own child and in many others, but it depends on several key factors.

What Influences Hair Regrowth in Autoimmune Alopecia?

1. Type of alopecia
   Some forms have higher recovery potential. Autoimmune types like alopecia areata, totalis, and universalis can all improve when root causes are addressed.
2. Length of time the hair has been gone
   Longer-term cases may take more time, but follicles in autoimmune alopecia often stay alive for years.
3. Health of the follicles
   In autoimmune alopecia, follicles are usually dormant—not dead. That means regrowth is still possible.
4. Approach taken
   A root-cause approach is more likely to support long-term recovery than symptom-focused treatments.
5. Child-specific factors
   Children’s developing immune systems can respond differently—and sometimes more quickly—than adults’.

Which Types of Autoimmune Alopecia Respond Best?

Alopecia Areata (Patchy Hair Loss)

You may hear claims that mild alopecia areata will just spontaneously resolve on its own. Yes, regrowth can happen—but often, patches grow back only because the trigger has been removed (perhaps incidentally) or resolves naturally.

In most cases, patchy hair loss or alopecia areata progresses into larger bald patches or even complete hair loss if triggers and root cause are not addressed.

Alopecia Totalis or Universalis (Complete Hair Loss)

These forms are more advanced but still have recovery potential. The difference isn’t whether regrowth can happen—it’s how much time and consistency is needed.

Related question: Is it harder to regrow hair from alopecia totalis or universalis?
Answer: It takes longer, but the recovery path is still possible with the right approach.

Can Autoimmune Alopecia Be Cured?

There’s no single “cure” in the conventional sense. But when we shift the question to: “Can we reverse the process and regrow healthy hair?”—the answer is often yes.

Think of alopecia as a signal, not a fixed identity. Address the causes, and regrowth becomes a realistic goal—something I emphasize consistently through Winning Alopecia.

What Does Recovery Look Like?

Based on my observations with my own child and others, recovery typically follows this pattern:

1. Initial regrowth phase – Thin, fine, soft, unpigmented hair, also called vellus hair, starts to appear in previously bald areas.
2. Strengthening phase – Hair gradually regain length, thickness, and pigmentation.
3. Stabilization – Immune activity calms and normalizes, hair loss or shedding slows down or stops.
4. Maintenance – Hair growth is sustained and progresses through ongoing support.

What Helps Children Regrow Hair From Alopecia?

Understanding What Triggers It in Kids

Children’s bodies respond differently than adults. Their triggers are often:

• Food sensitivities
  Children’s immune systems react more strongly to inflammatory foods.
• Environmental exposures
  Kids absorb more relative to their body size—and detox more slowly.
• Internal imbalances
  Alopecia in toddlers and babies usually points to immune, gut, or metabolic imbalances—not stress.
• Stress (Secondary factor)
  Unlike adults, stress is rarely a main trigger in kids, though it may add to the burden.

How to Support Hair Regrowth in Kids Naturally

1. Nutrition That Goes Beyond Nutrients

Nutrients matter—but food quality, digestion, and preparation methods matter more.

• Focus on whole, minimally processed foods
• Support digestion and absorption
• Avoid common food triggers
• Prioritize cooking methods that preserve nutrients and reduce inflammation

Related question: Can supplements alone fix alopecia in kids?
Answer: Supplements help, but without diet and gut support, they often fall short.

2. Support Detox and Immune Regulation

• Help children’s bodies clear toxins gently
• Use foods and protocols appropriate for their developmental stage

3. Work With—Not Against—Their Stage of Development

Children aren’t small adults. What works for a grown-up with alopecia may not be safe or effective for a 6-year-old.

Common Questions About Childhood Alopecia Recovery

How Long Does It Take For A Child’s Hair To Grow Back With Alopecia?

Based on my experience, regrowth timelines vary but generally follow these patterns:

• First signs of regrowth: 3 weeks to 3 months when addressing all potential triggers
• Noticeable improvement: Typically 3-6 months
• Substantial or full regrowth: Usually between 6-12 months

Children sometimes show different recovery patterns than adults, occasionally with more rapid improvement when the right factors are addressed.

FAQ: Common Questions About Childhood Alopecia

How long does it take for a child’s hair to grow back with alopecia?

• Initial regrowth: 3–12 weeks
• Visible improvement: 3–6 months
• Full or substantial regrowth: 6–12 months

This depends on the approach taken. Root-cause approaches tend to lead to more sustained results.

Why don’t conventional treatments work well in kids?

Most medications for alopecia are not intended to be used on children. For example:

• Topical steroids and immunosuppressants do not address triggers and root cause but merely suppress symptoms
• Side effects can interfere with growth, immunity, or long-term health
• Children’s systems are still developing—so risks and responses differ

When my child was prescribed minoxidil and steroids, the specialist, pediatric dermatologist at a leading children’s hospital admitted:
“These aren’t really meant for kids—but it’s all we’ve got. Maybe they will help, but most likely they won’t.” 🤯😱 At least he was being honest and upfront about it.

That’s when I realized I needed to look elsewhere—something that eventually led me to create Winning Alopecia.

Why Is Finding Answers Challenging Even With Alternative Approaches?

Addressing childhood autoimmune alopecia, even with alternative approaches like naturopathic and functional medicine, in my personal experience, are also frustrating because:

1. Most practitioners have limited or no experience with alopecia specifically.
2. Even fewer, if at all, are experienced in childhood alopecia.
3. Expensive testing still doesn’t reveal root causes.
4. Alternative approaches still follow a very similar model to mainstream medicine, i.e. test and then prescribe (usually supplements) based on test results. This is still not looking deep enough into causes, as supplementing based on detected anomalies in lab results is also just a form of symptom treatment.

The Reality of Alopecia Recovery in Children

In my nine years on this journey with my own child’s alopecia, I’ve seen firsthand that recovery is possible. Successful approaches typically involve:

• Persistent investigation of personal triggers
  Finding the specific combination of factors often requires determined investigation.
• Child-centered approach
  Recognizing that adult protocols are not suitable for children.
• Patience and consistency
  Giving the body time to heal while consistently supporting it.
• Belief in possibility
  Maintaining hope while taking proactive steps forward.

Next Steps For Your Child’s Alopecia Journey

If you’re a parent of a child with alopecia:

• Gather essential information before making major decisions about treatment.
• Learn to recognize potential triggers that conventional approaches overlook.
• Understand the unique considerations for childhood versus adult alopecia.
• Adopt a systematic approach to identifying what works for your child’s specific situation.
• Align with resources that focus on regrowth and recovery, not just acceptance—like what I share at Winning Alopecia, where I document our journey and offer tools for families who want to do more than just wait and see.

Conclusion: A Path Forward

The question isn’t simply whether hair can grow back with alopecia—it’s about understanding what your child’s body needs to restore balance and health.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, many children can achieve substantial hair regrowth when the right combination of factors is addressed.

Your child’s alopecia recovery journey is deeply personal, and there’s tremendous power in taking an active role rather than accepting limited options. The next step isn’t about suppressing symptoms but actively identifying triggers and addressing the underlying factors driving them.

Want to Learn More About Natural Alopecia Recovery for Kids?

My work at Winning Alopecia focuses on empowering parents with clear, practical steps to stop hair loss and support regrowth.

After nine years of direct experience helping my own child recover, I’ve created The Alopecia Starter Guide to provide essential, actionable steps for parents beginning this journey. This resource helps you avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions from day one—without having to learn everything the hard way as I did.

Disclaimer

The information provided is based on personal experience and is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace professional medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers regarding any medical condition, especially before making changes to your child’s treatment plan.

Every child’s experience with alopecia is unique, and results may vary. What worked in my personal journey with my child may not work identically for everyone. This content reflects my perspective after nine years of navigating childhood alopecia and should be considered as one resource among many in your information-gathering process.

As a parent, discovering a bald or thinning spot on your child’s scalp can be overwhelming and emotional. You might find yourself asking questions like:

• What is happening here?
• Is it normal for kids to lose hair?
• Could stress be causing this?
• Is it an allergy, or something related to a recent illness?
• Is this going to get worse, or will it just go away on its own?

What Happens Next When You Notice Hair Loss?

Naturally, you start paying closer attention. You check your child’s pillow, hairbrush, and the shower drain, wondering if this is just a passing phase. You want to know—will it go away on its own, or is there something more serious going on?

At this point, most parents turn to Google for answers, and the results are a mix of confusion and anxiety. You’ll probably come across the term “alopecia,” and suddenly you’re diving into rabbit holes, only to be left with more confusion than clarity.

You may read things like:

• “Alopecia affects 2% of the population.”
• “In most cases, hair will grow back on its own.”
• “Alopecia is random and unpredictable.”

Then, the panic starts to set in. You book an appointment with your doctor, hopeful that they’ll have a solution. But instead, you’re often met with trial-and-error treatments and vague answers.

Is This Just Stress, Or Is There Something Else?

Here’s the reality:

• No, hair won’t just grow back on its own in most cases.
• No, doctors generally don’t have a simple solution; most treatments are trial and error.
• No, it’s not just stress causing the hair loss.
• And no, shampoos or over-the-counter products alone won’t solve the issue.

What’s actually going on? It’s likely autoimmune alopecia—and there’s much more to it than meets the eye.

The Complex Truth About Alopecia and Hair Loss

Alopecia isn’t “random” or “unpredictable” like many are told. It’s caused by a range of factors, and understanding what triggers it is the key to addressing it.

Alopecia in children is an autoimmune condition, which means the body is attacking its own hair follicles. But this isn’t just about stress or external factors like shampoo. There’s a deeper cause at play.

Your Journey Begins Here

Finding out your child has alopecia can be confusing, especially in the first few weeks. The emotional rollercoaster is real, and it’s natural to feel lost. But here’s the good news: There are things you can do to promote hair growth. You’re not alone on this journey. There is hope—and answers beyond the surface level.

Take a deep breath, it’s going to be okay. This is the beginning of learning more and discovering real solutions for your child’s hair growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Alopecia is likely the cause of your child’s hair loss.
2. Shampoo, and quick-fix treatments won’t address the underlying issue.
3. There’s a lot to learn as you start this journey, and real solutions are available once you understand the root causes.

 

When your child is diagnosed with alopecia, the first thing you’re likely to get is a prescription for meds. Before you decide, this is your child’s health, so ask questions and do your homework.

📝 Read the fine print. Docs won’t tell you about the side effects of the drugs they prescribe. Honestly, I don’t think anyone focuses on long-term implications, so you have to care for yourself!

• What’s in the drug? How does it work? Does it suppress the immune system? Block inflammation?Does it just manage symptoms or actually address the cause of the hair loss?
• What are the warning labels? Steroids, immunosuppressants, and other meds often come with warnings like potential growth issues, hormonal imbalances, or long-term immune complications. These are rarely if ever discussed during a short appointment.

📝 What worked for someone else may not work for your child, or could have risks you’re not willing to take.

• Are you OK with temporary results and long term side effects?
• What does this mean for your child’s health in 5, 10, or 20 years?

📝 Your doc doesn’t have all the options. They are trained to use pharma meds, and mainstream medicine tends to dismiss non-pharma approaches, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t valid.

📝 Using prescription meds may seem like the “easier” way out compared to changing your family’s daily choices, like what your child eats or their environment. But really, there is no easy way out with this. Healing comes from addressing the root causes, not just managing symptoms. While it’s tempting to hope for a quick fix, lasting results require deeper, more thoughtful changes.

It’s a personal decision.

The best choice is the one you feel good about after careful consideration. Whatever you choose, make sure it aligns with your child’s needs and your long-term vision for their health. Weigh your options and risks, ask tough questions, and make informed decisions instead of just rushing into whatever the docs tell you.

Preparing for your child’s doc or dermatologist appointment for Alopecia? Here are 15 questions that I would ask.

1. What is causing my child’s Alopecia?
2. What further tests can we do to identify potential triggers, not just a snapshot of what’s currently going on in their body?
3. If there are deficiencies or anomalies, what are causing them?
4. Do lifestyle factors like their diet and exposure to toxins play a role in this? If not, why do you think not?
5. If the cause is unknown, how do we know for sure what’s NOT causing it then?
6. Why is my child’s immune system behaving this way? What could it be overreacting to?
7. Why are you recommending this treatment?
8. How does this medication/topical/allergy pills work, and what’s the goal?
9. What do these drugs to my child’s body, what are the effects in the short and long term?
10. How can I know if these are safe for my child?
11. What are the warnings on these drugs? Are we supposed to use them on children?
12. What are the risks vs. potential benefits of these drugs?
13. What would happen if we stop treatment?
14. What other options are there beyond these treatments that you prescribe?
15. If these treatments don’t work, what are the next steps?
16. If my child experiences negative effects with these treatments, what do we do?

Short answer? Yes IF:

🤔 You just wait for a “solution” from the doc or specialist, which is often a long wait and turns out to offer no answer but just prescription meds to manage symptoms, and

🤔 You don’t proactively learn and educate yourself about this, and

🤔 You don’t find and remove as many potential triggers as possible to STOP the hair loss.

The time it takes to wait for your appointment with high hopes, to do blood tests and wait for the results, only to eventually be told “the labs are normal”, and “the cause is unknown”… that bald spot may get bigger and yes, more may come up. 😩😢

We’re taught to seek all answers from the “experts”, but what do we do when the “experts” don’t have any answer or solution to offer?

Many kids progress quickly to total hair loss in a matter of weeks or months. The logic is simple. If you keep doing the same things that get your kid to this point, then you can’t expect the outcomes to change.

Instead of just holding high hopes that the doc or specialist will solve this for you, teach yourself and make changes. All of my child’s hair regrowth did not come from what the docs and specialists had to offer, but from years of learning and making changes and then more changes through all the ups and downs. 💪

Your child’s doctor appointment is where you have HIGH HOPES to finally get answers. Will you, though?

You spend days and weeks searching for the ‘best doctor’ and waiting for the appointment. But before you get your hopes up… here’s what to expect at your child’s doctor/specialist appointment for Alopecia, shared from my experience having seen about 10 different doctors and specialists for my child’s Alopecia, between the age 19 months to 8 years old, across two different countries.

1. The docs will diagnose and tell you what  type of hair loss your child has, usually either alopecia areata, totalis, universalis, or something else that is likely not autoimmune-related, such as fungal infection, etc.
2. They will order labs (blood test) which will most likely come back “normal”. If they find deficiencies, they will ‘treat’ your child for those, but won’t find out the cause.
3. They won’t know what causes the hair loss, except to just say it’s autoimmune. Some will venture “guesses”… stress, recent infection, allergy, or that your kid may have been pulling out their own hair.
4. They won’t know when you ask them the prognosis… will the hair grow back? how bad will this get? Each doc has their own version of how they think this will go. Reality: no one knows, not even the ‘professionals’… no clue.
5. They don’t know what causes it but they will tell you it’s nothing to do with your child’s diet or the environment, perhaps maybe just to the extent of things like “do you eat enough food containing iron/protein/etc. Very surface level ‘basic’ stuff.
6. They will prescribe: minoxidil/steroids/immunosuppressants/antihistamine (allergy meds), antibiotics, or even stronger drugs like JAK inhibitors etc. Steroids and immunosuppressants will be given in either pill or topical cream/lotion. They rarely discuss side effects and they don’t know how effective these treatments will be. No matter which doc you see, these are all they have in their toolbox, nothing more.
7. You spent time preparing a list of thought out questions but it will likely be a super short appointment because they won’t be able to nor have time to answer your Q’s.

Docs are your first stop. But oftentimes, I see parents getting their hopes up and having too high of an expectation of what the appointment will bring them.

Remember, docs have a role and they are trained in one aspect only. What they offer you does not represent ALL your options.

All the hair growth we got did not come from MSM: no pill, no shot, no topicals. And this was right for us.

You found one or more bald or thinning spots on your child’s hair/head and suspect that he/she may be dealing with Alopecia?

I can’t tell you what to do, but here are 8 things I would do, speaking from my own experience.

Step 1. Get a diagnosis.
📝 See a doctor or dermatologist to get a diagnosis and confirm the type of Alopecia that you’re dealing with. They will most likely order lab work and prescribe Minoxidil/steroid/immunosuppressant/antihistamine as treatment options, and not much more. In some cases, a written formal diagnosis will come in handy later on.

Step 2. Do your homework and evaluate your options before deciding on a treatment.
📝 Really do your own homework on the treatment options handed to you. You most likely won’t get info on side effects from the 🩺🧑‍⚕️ so do your own research and then weigh your risks vs. benefits. No one will care about this more than you do.

Step 3. Learn all you can about what you can do proactively.
📝 Don’t stop with a diagnosis and medicated treatment (if you decide to take it). There are tons to learn and lots you can do to turn this around for your child well beyond what docs are trained for.

Step 4. Evaluate all that your child is exposed to on a daily basis: what goes into and around them.
📝 Clean up their ‘environment’ — that includes what they eat and use — and remove as many potential triggers as possible. Even if you decide to use meds, this step is still important as meds will not possibly take care of this and your docs will tell you that this is not what causes it.

5. Distance yourself from content that is counterintuitive.
📝 If healing your child from Alopecia is what you truly want, I wouldn’t consume “support groups” content that promote and over glorify being bald and not needing hair. Acceptance is important, but be careful of crossing over into simply submitting, unless that’s what you want. Tune in to content that gives you hope and encouragement of what’s possible instead.

Step 6. Talk to your child in a way that empowers them.
📝 Explain to them what’s happening in a language that they can understand, based on age and comprehension level. Let them know that you will be learning about this together and figure out what you can do about it. Reassure them that they can still do amazing things with their life.

Step 7. Inform your child’s school, teachers, etc.
📝 Write or speak to your child’s school, teachers, and wherever else they have regular activities at which you think are relevant to know. It helps if they are aware so that they can be accommodating (such as if your child wants to wear head coverings or need to keep a special diet), to be more sensitive when planning things like “crazy hair days”, and to be more equipped if other students have questions.

Step 8. Do what you can to protect your child’s feelings, self esteem and self confidence.
📝 Whatever you choose to do, whether it’s meds or changing diet and lifestyle choices, it will take time to see ‘results’. In the meantime, do what you can to make them feel as emotionally comfortable as possible. That means yes if they want to use hats, scarves, headbands, different hairstyles, hair toppers, or even wigs as you work on getting the hair to grow back. It’s all OK. 🩵

A heart-wrenching question: Will it grow back? Is this a temporary ‘phase’, or will it be permanent? 😢

All of these were said by different docs we saw: 👇
– She will be completely bald if you don’t start using this strong immunosuppressant ASAP! 😱
– Nah, these things happen to kids. The hair will just grow back on its own.” 🤢
– 😶😶😶 (seriously, she said nothing and just walked out of the consult room and ‘disappeared’).
– Use this steroid cream. The immunosuppressant isn’t strong enough.
– No, we shouldn’t use steroids on kids for Alopecia. I’m going to prescribe Minoxidil and Clobetasol.
– I’ve read about using allergy meds for this. Do you want to try that?
– Yeah, there’s nothing we can do.

Conclusion? They are all just as clueless. 🤯

Hair can grow back—but it depends on the steps you take.

🌱 Regrowth isn’t just about waiting for time to heal. The foods your child eats, their hydration, their exposure to sunlight, and even how much restorative sleep they get play a HUGE role in supporting their hair follicles to thrive again.

🌀You may be disappointed down the road if:
– You rely solely on mainstream advice and those “experts” 🩺🧑‍⚕️ that say, “It’s just autoimmune, and there’s nothing you can do.” or, “It’s genetic—just accept it.” or “Steroids and pills are your only option, everything else doesn’t have enough scientific research to back it up.” 🤢
– You spend too much time in “support groups” that over glorify and celebrate the condition without doing anything meaningful in helping turn around hair loss to hair growth. We don’t just need passive acceptance and embracing the condition, but also hope and realistic action plan to CHANGE THIS! 💥

Learn about this, empower yourself with knowledge and take steps to change the situation. Follow my account for all things kids Alopecia.

#alopeciaawareness#alopeciauniversalis#alopeciatreatment#viral

Alopecia is a broad term that refers to hair loss in general. When hair loss happens to kids, it’s usually the autoimmune kind, meaning that it is immune-related.

1. Alopecia Areata
The most common type, this usually starts with bald patches on the scalp.

Variations of Alopecia Areata:

– Ophiasis: Hair loss happens along the sides and back of the scalp.
– Sisaipho: The reverse of ophiasis—hair loss affects the top of the scalp while the edges remain intact.
– Diffuse Alopecia Areata: Instead of patches, hair thins evenly across the scalp, often mistaken for other types of hair loss.

2. Alopecia Totalis
When hair loss progresses to the entire scalp.

3. Alopecia Universalis
Complete hair loss across the scalp and body, including eyebrows and eyelashes.

If you see a doctor, they won’t know what causes it, and sometimes they would *guess*… “it’s probably stress” or “your child may be pulling their hair out”. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Stress affects our immune response, so yes, stress would have an effect, but is not the sole cause for autoimmune types of Alopecia.

Some people do develop patches of hair loss from physical pulling of the hair (including those from super tight hairstyles), but that’s a totally different kind of Alopecia which is much more straightforward and NOT what we’re dealing with here.

Regardless of which of the 3 types of autoimmune Alopecia you’re dealing with, I want to comfort you by saying that THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO. We don’t hear this enough, certainly not from the 🧑‍⚕️🩺.

* This post is for informational purposes and is not a medical diagnosis. Please consult your own doctor for your specific circumstance.

#alopecia#alopeciakids#alopeciaawareness#viral